Leonardo DiCaprio wanted to play the less than ethical character in Martin Scorsese's new movie, 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' which also stars Robert De Niro.
Leonardo DiCaprio may be the star of Martin Scorsese’s latest film, 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' but he is most certainly not its hero. Based on the book of the same name by David Grann, 'Killers' tells the true story of the murders of members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma by White settlers in the 1920s after recently discovered oil makes the Osage people some of the richest in the country.
That also meant a change in casting, as Scorsese explained to WSJ Magazine, suggested by DiCaprio, who was meant to play the investigator but opted instead for the less than upstanding Ernest. 'The complexity of how that relationship unfolded is shown in the movie in a very interesting way, and we played with how much we wanted to show the audience as far as Ernest’s complicity in some of these murders,' DiCaprio said in an interview for the film .
The studio said, ‘We backed the other version, we can’t back this one,’' Scorsese told WSJ Magazine. Apple TV+ ended up coming to the aid of the 'Killers' production, partnering with Paramount to release the film in theaters before its debut on the streaming service. The change allowed Scorsese to explore 'a story that has real evil in it, evil like I've never covered or ever experienced or researched about before in my life,' as he told CBS News.
The murder plot, driven by greed, ignorance and racism, is put forth by Ernest’s uncle William Hale, played by Scorsese’s other frequent collaborator, Robert De Niro. De Niro spoke about his role at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, saying he did not 'understand a lot about him' and why he committed the murders. However, he claimed it came about from the 'feeling of entitlement' and 'the banality of evil.
However, lurking behind their relationship is De Niro’s character, who encourages a marriage to an Osage person because, as Gladstone put it, 'There’s good money in that.' Gladstone, a well-established actress who has appeared in shows like 'Reservation Dogs' and 'Billions,' did admit to feeling intimidated working with DiCaprio, but those fears quickly dissipated.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Flower men step in when flower girl falls asleep at weddingWhen the flower girl fell asleep before she was supposed to walk down the aisle, her cousins made sure the ceremony still went off without a hitch.
Read more »
All 6 Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio Movies, RankedMartin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are a force to be reckoned with and movies like Killers of the Flower Moon and The Wolf of Wall Street prove it.
Read more »
Box Office: 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Opening Day Nabs $9.4 MillionMartin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' has earned $9.4 million, tracking behind Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' concert film.
Read more »
DiCaprio vs. De Niro: Who is the better Martin Scorsese collaborator?With Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro starring in Killers of the Flower Moon, it begs the question: Which actor is the better Martin Scorsese collaborator?
Read more »
Martin Scorsese Clarifies Plans For New Leonardo DiCaprio Movie After Killers of the Flower Moon: "Let Me Take A Break"Martin Scorsese clarifies the timeline for - and Leonardo DiCaprio's involvement in - his post-Killers of the Flower Moon movie The Wager.
Read more »
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Global IMAX Box Office Is Off to a Strong StartKillers of the Flower Moon, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone, debuts with an impressive haul at the global IMAX box office.
Read more »